Valve mechanism



June 16, 1953 R. c. RUSSELL 2,642,050

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ss so nvyzzvroza :El E

- ROBERT C. RUSSELL ATTORNEYS June 16, 1953 R. c. RUSSELL 2,642,050

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 l6 as 22 lo i 'i 4o 41 EI'L '3 44 1* 4 2% 46 I 5 4a 4a E3; E1- E v INVENTOR.

RQBER'T C. RussELl.

ATTORNEYS June 16, 1953 R. c. RUSSELL VALVE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3f INVENTOR. ROBERT C. Russsu.

BYQ

Ar'ronuavs R. C. RUSSELL VALVE MECHANISM June 16, 1953 Filed Feb. 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ROBERT C. Russsu.

TTORNEYS Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE V 2, 42,050 g g I VALVE MECHANISM Robert 0. Russell, Euclid, Ohio, assignor to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio I l n Application February 24, 1951, serial No. 212,544

12 Claims.

This invention relates to valve operating mechanism and more particularly to means for automatically compensating for variations occurring in the length of said mechanism as a result of ating mechanismyand thatis not subject to excessive wear thus permitting of an extended service-free life th ereof.

theoperation thereoii 5 O her Objects and advantages of the invention Broadly the invention comprehends the proviwill appear from the following description taken sion of means in the form of a torsion spring in connection with the drawings forming a part loaded screw and nut assembly incorporated as of the specification; and in which: 7

a part of the component members of a valve oper- Fig. 1 is a front elevational partially fragmenating mechanism and wherein through a relative 10 tary, partially cross-sectionalized view of a valve rotation between-the screw and nut assembly a valve operating mechanism is achieved. The torsion spring provides for an elongation compensashortening in elongation compensation of the" operating mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 21s a side elevational partiallyjfragmentary, partially.cross-sectionalized view of Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view taken substan= tion of the mechanism by the act of biasing the tially along lines 3-3 at Fig. 1;

members of the screw and nut assembly apart Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken substanwhen clearance occurs in the mechanism and a tially along lines 44 of Fig. 1;

partlof one mechanism upon the opening cycle. Fig 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified of the valve thereof operates to turn a member 'iormof adjustment screw'from that incorporated of the screw and nut assembly of the adjacent in the structure of Fig.1;

mechanism for a threading up action therebe- -Bis atop plan view of Fig.5; tween to provide a shortening compensation for Fi '7 is a fra ta y fr l vat f a p r said mechanism if required durin a position of f op ratively related pushrods incorp r n a rest thereof. .A similar operation is bad between modified form of inter-engaging lev r members said adjacent mechanisms when the second mechfrom at S ow in Figs. 1 and 2 .amsm is effe ting a 1 p i e ation and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substanthe first mechanism is at rest. tially along lines f a d Among the several objects of the invention are Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substanthe following: tially along lines 99 of Fig. 8,

T r vid means for mechanically automati- Similar reference characters indicate correcally compensating for variations in length of the Sponding parts throughout the several views of operating components of a valve operating mech- Y the drawingsanism resulting from operation thereofthat is" Thismeans for mechanically automatically simple and practical of construction, economical j eoinpenseting for length ati n in valve opertomanufacture and effective andlquiet moperag at ng mechanisms ior internal combustion ention, that is applicable to conventionally used 7 gineswas devised for the purpose of providing valve operating: mechanism as either original or an -:economical and practical structure which replacement equipment; that can be quickly in-f could be utilized either as original equipment in stalled as service replacement equipment inexist-f new internal combustion engines wherein the mg internal combustion engines without require major component elements of a valve operating ment for changing any of major elements of the V mechanism $11011 as t ppet, pushrod, rocker valve operating mechanism; that includes the arm and valve are adapted for the use" thereof or basic elements of a screw and nut assembly biased s service replacement equipment wherein said apart by a torsion'spring forming apart of each Structure a d xi ting engine structure valve'operating mechanism together with lever Without q ring major changes therein. In so means interconnected between adjacent valve 7 being utilized as replacement equipment it is mechanisms, said lever means being operative to only necessary in the case of overhead valve type alternately turn one member of each screw and Of engines to remove the pushrods and adj t 'nut assembly for a length shortening compensament screws from the rocker arms and insert a 'tion ofthe mechanisms that effects an automatic 5 special adjustment screw in'each roc arm and length compensation upon the base circle portion replace the pushrods with pushrods incorporatof the valve operating mechanism; that only inglength' compensatio means th Thus operates to effect a length compensation when theflnewly added equipment not only w'ill required; that compensates 'for e'ccentricities" in vide for length compensation of the valve operthe base circle portion of the cam; incor- '55 ating mechanism but only account for the long screw members normally biased apart by ator sion spring and a lever member, engageable.v with a lever member on the'next adjacentpushrodsuch that upon opening cycle operation of one pushrod a part of the lever member therein engages a part of the lever member-on the adjacent pushrod effective to thread up the screw and nut members for a shortening operation of the pushrod. This shortening of the one pushrod occurs prior to the valve opening cycle of operation thereof while the cam for actuating same is on its base circle. The other of theadjacent pair of pushrods is shortened when it is at rest on the base circle operation of its cam when the other pushrod is in its valve opening cycle of operation.

The adjustment screw used includes a spring washer in biasing relation between axially relatively movable parts thereof efiective to account for the long ramp design of a standard cam to thus prevent premature opening of the valve which would occur if this correction were not made. i

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention ll] represents generally a valve operating mechanism comprising basically, a tappet I2, a pushrod l4 and a rocker arm I6 adapted in the case ofthe tappet-to be engaged at one end by acam,-not shown, and the rocker arm upon its end, not shown, avalve, not shown. a

Each pushrod [4 includes a slender screw element i8 and a nut element 2 th;readingly -enmitting of the reception therein of the spherical shaped end 30 of an adjustment screw 32. The

screw is threadingly'mounted in one arm 34 of the rocker arm and is locked therein in desired position by a lock nut 36 threaded thereon.

The spring 22 in being connected between the screw and nut elements has one'end fixed on a collar 38 provided on the nut element and its other end-fixed in acollar 40 provided on the nut element.

A lever member 42 is fixedly secured upon each screw element and includes along arm 44 terminating in a finger 46, and a short arm 48 having a slide cam ramp 50 thereon, said arms being disposed substantially at right angles to one another. t

In the case of the inter-engagement relation of the lever members of respectively adjacent valve operating mechanisms such as represented by Fig. 1 wherein one mechanism A can be des-,

ienated as the exhaust valve mechanism and Each The free end of the nut element is en- 4 B the intake valve mechanism, a spring 52 is arranged in interconnected relation between the long arms of the respective lever members substantially mid-Way of their length. With the spring 52 so arranged between arms 44 tending to hold them together the fingers 46 on the respective arms 44 bear upon the ramps 50 of the arms 48 of the other lever member. It is to be noted in the position shown by Fig. 1 that the respective operating mechanisms are out of phase to"one another primarily because the mechanism B is in the position Where its cam is riding on its .base circle whereas the mechanism A is in its cycleof operation where its valve has been moved to full open position. During the course of the movement of the pushrod of mechanism A vertically upward and with the finger 46 of the lever member 42 of mechanism B bearing on ramp 50 of the lever member of mechanism A a turning of screw element I8 of mechanism Bwill result. Should the valve operating mechanism,

of mechanism B be under load of the valve spring as ajresult of the valve not being closed because -.of expansion in said mechanism the screw ele-- ment thereof will be rotated, with relative movement normally occurring between the screw ele-- ment and tappet because of the low friction connection providedtherebetween to permit of this action. The screw elements rotation willnot be imparted to thenut since the resistanceto'tur'n-l ing of the nut element 20 relative 'tothe screw element I8 through the friction connection betweenthe socket of the nutmemberand the spherical end of the screw 32 is greater thanthe V resistance to relative movementbetween' the threads of the screw and nut elements! The threads of the screw and nut elements ar'e pu'r posely made of as steep an angle as'possiblejust' so longas they are self-lockingthereby permit tin of ease in the threading up thereof against the resistance of torsion spring 22 when an axial load is "imposed on the pushrodand rota'tioiiis imparted to the screw element.

It'isobvious that in the event no loadis im posed on the pushrod other than that of torsion screw element I 8will spring'22'a rotation of the be imparted to the nut element and 'noshortening of the rod'will occur unit.

In theevent wear or contraction occurs in the valve operating mechanism tending towards the I he in t t r on spr1ng22 arranged between the screw and nut introduction of clearance elements will'operate to elongate the pushrod I This elongation nor mally occurs Tat-base cam of the mechanism load 1 is relieved although of the spring I I the pre-load condition 22 would permit of itsoperationat anytime ifnecessity so requires. a V ,When theipushr'od of'mechanisrnA moves ver I closing cycle ofj operation thereof the spring S Z in tending to the respective mecha tically downward in a valve draw the lever. arms 44 of nisms A and B together ment of the arm 44 of pushrod l 4 'in' association with the finger 46 of arm ramp 50 of the arm 48 of the lever member of mechanism A to return to its normal rest posi tion wherein both valve operating mechanisms A and B are in valve closed positio n. No elon gation or shortening of'the pushrod (4 or mechanismjB occurs during the valve of opertaini1 of mechanism A siii provides for the move with adjustsince it is rotated at circle operation of the when the valve spring 1 mechanism 13 and the therewith as a -unit' 44 bearing-on-slide 1 zlq inslcy e in element 58.

ment-having beenefiected in the. mechanism" during the valveopening :cycle of mechanism A;

a turning imparted to lever member 42 of mechav nism B;.turns the pushrod 14 connected therewith as a unitary structure since no' load is imposed axially thereon resisting the turning there-..

element I8 of the pushrod of mechanism Atoi.

effecta shortening operation thereof if required. A closing cycle of operation of mechanism B results exactly reversely to the closing cycle of operation of mechanism'Ain that the lever member 42 and the pushrod associated therewithis returned tonormal rest position with the lever member 42"of mechanismBJ J v Figs. 5' and 6 illustrate a modified form of adjustment screw 54 from that shown in the structures of Figs. 1 and 2 in that it incorporates a spring washer 56 between relatively axially movable elements. 58 and 60 thereof. Element 60 defines a pin having an enlarged head 62 providing a spherical surface forkreception' in the socket of nut element 20 similarly to the screw of Fig. land a cylindrical body 64 reciprocal in a threaded member constituting element 58. The element 58 in addition to being threaded for receipt in the threadedopening of the rocker arm has a bore therethrough receiving the cylindrical body of the pin for reciprocation therein and an enlarged head 66 having bearing relation on the underside of the rocker arm. The side of head 62 of the element 60 opposite from the spherical surface thereon provides an annular conical surface 68 complementary to an annular conical surface 10 on the head surfaceof element 58 opposite from its bearing on the rocker'arm. The spring washer 56 is arranged axially intermediate the conical surfaces 68 and I0 biasing the elements of the screw apart a predetermined amount representing the compensation for long ramps of standard cams with which the mechanism of Fig. 1 can be made to operate.

As a means of preventing relative rotation between the elements 58 and 60 of the screw 54 while at the same time permitting of axial movement therebetween, a pin 12 is fixedly secured upon element 60 with the opposite ends thereof received in diametrically opposite axial slots 14 A nut I6 is threaded upon the element 58 of screw 54 for locking said screw in position in the rocker arm so as to insure against its movement therefrom.

Figs. '7 through 9 illustrate a modified form of inter-engaging lever arrangement from that shown by Figs. 1 through 4 in that the spring 52 is eliminated and a more compact lever arrangement is provided.

The lever arrangement of Figs. '7 through 9 includes a pair of identical lever members 18, each including integral lever arms 88 and 82 fixed medially of the arms, upona pushrod for common movement therewith. Whereas arm 80 bears similarity to arm 44 of the previously defined structure, arm 82 is comparable to arm 48. v

Each of the armsBlJ terminates in a finger 84 which is in the form of. a cylinder adapted to be received in acam slot 86 of leverv arma82 for bearing relationupon opposite parallelcam sur faces 88.- In fingers 84 being confined for movement-in. the cam slots 86 with close fitting relation to the cam surfaces 88 no spring is required between said levermembers to maintain them in:

contacting operating relation. It is obvious with the lever members 18 in such interconnected relation that a similar operational result will be attained as the lever members 42 of the struc-- In so interconnectinglever members 18 a decided compactnessin structure is achieved over the lever members 42 arrangement wherebythe' arrangement'is adaptable to confined spaces as well as a saving in the elimination of a spring as is required in the arrangement of lever members 42. T 1

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the

principle. involved is susceptible of numerous:

other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention, therefore, is limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A valve operating mechanism comprising a pair of threadingly engaged screw and nut member assemblies, a spring for each screw and nut member assembly normally biasing the members of each assembly apart, means associated with one screw and nut member assembly engageable with means associated with the other screw and nut member assembly, each of said means including a pair of arms arranged substantially at right angles to one another near the axis of a 'screw and nut assembly with which it is associated, a finger at the extremity of one arm and a cam element on the other arm with the'finger of one means engaging the cam element on the other means and the finger on the second means engaging the cam element on the first means, said engageable means associated with the screw and nut member assemblies operative upon alternate relative movement between the assemblies to provide for an alternate oscillation first of one of the members of one screw and nut member assembly and then of one of the members of the other screw and nut member assembly.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein yieldable means are connected between the engageable means.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein each cam element is in the form of a ramp upon which the engageable finger moves. I

4. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein each cam element is in the form of a slot with parallel cam surfaces bordering it and in which the finger is received for bearing engagement with the cam surfaces.

5. A mechanism according to claim 4 wherein the finger received in the slot is cylindrical in shape.

6. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein each screw and nut member assembly constitutes a pushrod.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6 wherein each pushrod is disposed between a rocker arm and a tappet with solely frictional contacting relation therewith.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7 wherein the rocker arminincludes an: element i supported therein; said element comprising a part fixedly secured in the rockerarm and a part resiliently biased therefromabut limited to axial movement thereto having frictional contacting relation with oneend'of the nut and screw member assemblyl c l 9. A mechanism according to claim 8 wherein the part of the element moveable relative to the rocker. arm has a pin fixed thereto slidablenin slot means in. the part of the element fixed to th l rocker arm. V. V v 10. A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the parts of the element present complementary:

tially at righikangles to one another neartheaxis of the device with which it is connected, a finger at theextremitywfonearm andv a cam element on the other arm withthe finger of a member connected with one device engaging the cam element of the. member.. connected with the other device and the finger .on'the second device engaging the cam element on the first device, the reciprocable movement of one devicebeing operative, through the. engagement of the cam on its member. with the "finger on themember of the other device, to shortenthe length of the second deviceand alreciprocable movement of the second device being oper'ativathrough the engagement of the cam-on its member, :with the finger on the member of the firstldevice, to shorten. the length of the first device. c 1 v 1; HROBERTWCr RUSSELL. "References: Citedfi'n he "file bf this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS a.

Number Name 7 Date 2,019,792 Nieman Nov. 5,'"l935 2,066,976 Holmes Jan. 5, 1937 2,323,965 Ang'lada July 13, 1943 2,419,316 Engemann Apr. 22, 1947 

